I am able to let you know about one certification better, that is CIA.
I passed certified Internal Auditor in november 2002.

CIA exam consists of four parts (papers). Every paper consists of 125 MCQs and a 75% accuracy is required to pass. Exam is conducted twice a year, once in May and once in November. You may visit www.theiia.org for pdf brochure and registration forms. Review material for exam preparation is available in lahore (maybe in other cities also), written by Irvin N. Gleim. This material provides good knowledge base and exam pracitce.

About value in Pakistan...
I am also ACCA affiliate. I face this question many times regarding ACCA and/or CIA. My opinion is that if we grasp the real knowledge instead of just passing exam, it enables us to add value to the organisation. I assure you that you can get extra value from your employer if you add value to the his business. If you don't get the certification and just read a comprehensive book on Internal Auditing (ie Sawyer's Internal Auditing), you may be better to apply your knowledge better then those who have just 'passed' certifications like these.
Second thing about value is that instead of having a bunch of certifications one should have a specific career objective. If you wish to be Financial Analyst, go for CFA, internal auditing, go for CIA, Banking, M.S Banking or DAIBP, IT audit, CISA, management accountancy, CIMA CMA or ACMA, and so on...

Really informative reply...u have mentioned that the review material is available in lahore...will u plz specify where can i get that from???<font face='Century Gothic'></font id='Century Gothic'><font size=6></font id=size6><font color=orange></font id=orange>

Really informative reply...u have mentioned that the review material is available in lahore...will u plz specify where can i get that from???<font face='Century Gothic'></font id='Century Gothic'><font size=6></font id=size6><font color=orange></font id=orange>

Thanx a lot for ur reply. Plz tell me from where I can get Sawyerâs Internal Auditing. I guess it will be available at all bookshops but I need the pirated version of it which I guess will be much cheaper. If u have any information, plz inform me<font face='Georgia'></font id='Georgia'><font size=5></font id=size5><font color=blue></font id=blue>

For scope please refer to second post of this topic though it is not too specific but it gives some idea.

Classes for CIA will start in two weeks at Audit and Accounts Training Institute, Gurumangat Road, Gulberg III Lahore. These classes are primarily for eovernment employees. However private students may also get addmission by paying fee.

is it worth doing CIA if one is not in the "internal audit" as such and rather works in a general practice environment.

i am asking this because its been over an year now i haven't done anything "material" study wise and although i m a strong opponent of piling up qualifications for the sake of it, i do believe that one should keep on studying till time permits. i have got couple of options with me including CA-EW, CTA, CIMA etc... but they are all FULL BLOWN qualifications not like IIA(UK) or CIA where i have to appear in 3 papers (being an ACCA) which i can study on my own. moreover, in the coming years i might be looking forward to specialise in Internal Audit.

your valuable are comments eagerly awaited

kind regards

"You don't get to choose how you're going to die. Or when. You can only decide how you're going to live. Now."

If general practice means working with a firm of accountants, then I am sure doing CIA is still a good option. Internal Audit is most misunderstood concept. It is all pervasive but independent activity. This is why IIA encourages a wide variety of professionals to obtain CIA degree.

Doing specialization in Internal Audit in future means that you'll probably get other accountancy experience and then come to Internal Audit. This is a great idea. And I'd like to let you know that after doing CIA and ACCA I started working with a Big 4 firm instead of starting in industry even I had good offers from industry. I beleive more in behaviour sciences then skills. For this reason firms are best places to be efficient in this area.

Hope this could help.
Regards,
INA

Now Mr. Swalat,
This time is to concentrate on your studies and do your articles. Once you complete both you may start with a salary of Rs. 15,000 to 20,000. But completion of both is necessary.
Demand varies but one thing is sure that in Government there are thousands of opportunities coming for internal audit professionals. To know about syllabus visit http//www.theiia.org/iia/index.cfm?doc_id=22 .
Kind Regards,
INA